“The sessions and speakers were great! This is a ‘must attend’ for those
who need to improve their S&OP processes.”Robert Filice, Manager Mobile Portfolio Planning | Bell Mobility

Hands-On Data Science & Predictive Analytics - 1/2 Day Workshop

This workshop will provide practical tips to incorporate into your own organization, where you’ll learn to leverage the cutting-edge of analytics technology. We will focus on data science applications for forecasting and best practices using Python. Recent advances in forecasting, often called Predictive Analytics techniques, involve the use of Big Data, including analysis of textual data like that created by social media (Facebook etc.). In this workshop, you will fully develop and script your own analytics solutions while simultaneously learning Python and its capabilities. This ½ day masterclass will be especially helpful for demand planners and forecasters looking to implement the latest advancements and next-level techniques.

IBF’s 4rd Annual Predictive Business Analytics, Forecasting & Planning Conference is a
comprehensive program covering everything about predicting the future using new sources of data,
methods, tools, talent management approaches, and more to become confident with our decision making and
business plans.

Why YOU should Attend:

Understand how to create a data driven culture in your organization and win

Learn how to turn Big Data into valuable insights for better operations planning

Learn how to apply predictive analytics to the S&OP process for maximum impact

Learn how to use social media, point-of-sale (POS), syndicated data, and other attributes to predict
sales

Gain knowledge on emerging technology tools for predictive analytics & business forecasting that are
making organizations more profitable

Learn how to optimize inventory and customer service through improved business analytics

See the significant financial benefits that can result from improving the analytics capabilities
within your organization

Learn how to mitigate risk through predictive analytics

And much more

“This event was very informative and there were great ideas presented
that I will be using to improve our forecasting process.”Barbara Thomas, Demand Planning Manager, Ecolab, Inc.

The Institute of Business Forecasting & Planning – IBF is a membership organization recognized
worldwide as the premier full-service provider of demand planning, forecasting, business analytics, S&OP
education, benchmarking research, training, certification, world-class conferences, and advisory
services. Since 1981, the IBF has been helping businesses improve their forecasting and planning
performance in an effort to enhance growth, optimize supply chains, and improve their bottom line. It
has been said that no other organization on the globe has as much depth in its educational content for
Demand Planning & Forecasting as IBF.

Having some of the world’s most well known global companies as its members, the IBF is constantly
finding and disseminating better ways to manage demand, improve organizational efficiency, and company
performance. By becoming an IBF member, you can ensure that you stay current with proven best practices,
link with global professionals facing similar challenges, ascend in your career, and bring your
organization to best-in-class levels in performance. The IBF is a pioneer in developing a Demand
Planning, Forecasting, and S&OP Certification program that can help boost your credentials, as well
as, give management greater confidence in its people. The IBF is known for two levels of certification:
Certified Professional Forecaster (CPF®) and Advanced Certified Professional Forecaster (ACPF®).

This workshop will provide practical tips to incorporate into your own organization, where you’ll learn to leverage the cutting-edge of analytics technology. We will focus on data science applications for forecasting and best practices using Python. Recent advances in forecasting, often called Predictive Analytics techniques, involve the use of Big Data, including analysis of textual data like that created by social media (Facebook etc.). In this workshop, you will fully develop and script your own analytics solutions while simultaneously learning Python and its capabilities. This ½ day masterclass will be especially helpful for demand planners and forecasters looking to implement the latest advancements and next-level techniques.

Have you ever presented solid, analytically based findings only for your insight to be ignored by key decision makers? Have you ever been told that more people would understand your presentation if it was simplified a little? Based on my experience, almost everyone in an analytical role will answer yes to these questions. Over the course of my career, my findings have often been challenged by people working on gut feeling rather than sound analysis, often contrary to what the data is telling us. And trust me when I say it’s not a case of simplifying the final presentation because it is impossible to make it simple enough for everyone to understand. Given these unsatisfying outcomes, I went in search of answers. The training I found was not helpful so I decided to partner with an organizational behavior consultant (co-presenter Tom Dyer) to develop an analytically tailored solution for people like us. We took collaboration tools as a starting point, enhancing them to create a framework for managing the people-focused element of the analytical process. In this presentation we will discuss the framework we developed, the logic behind it, why it is suitable for analytical people, how we introduced the framework to my team, and the feedback we have received so far. We will also discuss the highly positive impact this approach can have on your career path.

You will learn:

To truly understand the importance of ownership in the business process

How to manage both people and analytics to drive greater impact for your findings

Today’s systems capture a tremendous amount of supply chain related data. To take advantage of this capability, firms must transform this information into better decisions and improved performance. The ultimate goal is to transform this mass of unstructured data into useful performance indicators and diagnostics that result in improved service, lower costs and lower inventory. Those firms who can successfully transform data into actionable business insight will gain a sustainable competitive advantage. In this interactive session, I will provide a roadmap for applying a supply chain analytics framework that coordinates people, process and technology, and integrates all three to maximize results. I will discuss what data is needed and how should it be structured. Highlights include using the SCOR Model to provide a comprehensive set of performance indicators at both the business and operational levels, and why selecting the correct analytics and creating detailed definitions needs to occur before software programming. With practical insight into managing the whole process, you’ll learn how to overcome resistance to such an ambitious transformation project and leave with a solid idea of how to leverage Big Data in your own organizations.

You will learn:

How to structure a reporting and analysis process based on end user needs

How to link performance indicators across strategic, tactical and operational levels

When analytics professionals think of analyzing data, we automatically think of number crunching. But advancements in computational capabilities have now made analyzing words, sentences and paragraphs a central pillar of a successful analytics strategy. We now have the remarkable power to turn qualitative data into quantitative, actionable insight. In this hands-on session, you will discover the amazing capabilities of text analytics and how to efficiently and effectively mine information like customer comments and social media posts. The presentation will demystify complex procedures in Natural Language Processing utilizing open-source tools and resources. What’s more, I will guide you through the core concepts, what you need to get started, the challenges you may face, and of course the benefits you can realize from this approach. The techniques you will learn can be brought to your organization to enable your own text analytics initiatives.

You will learn:

Learn how to program in Python, a powerful and popular open-source application for Data Science

If there are 3 skills that every demand planner needs in their tool box, they are: calculating safety stock, consolidating the demand plan, and communicating the value of it to management. The value of calculating safety stock is clear but identifying the approach that best suits your firm is not so easy. This hands-on session will examine lead time, stock determinations process, demand variations and seasonality so you can implement the best method for your organization. Consolidating plans is key to developing a Management Production Schedule that ensures all required resources are available to meet the plan. In this seminar, I’ll be discussing who should own the consolidated demand plan, what should be included in it, and how to obtain the required numbers from across the company. Last but not least, I’ll provide you with an approach to drive home the value of the plan, with practical tips to communicate importance of findings through charts and graphs to drive escalation and decisions. We will also look at software solutions to drive down planning cycle lead times and minimize resource needs. With real-life examples from Dexcom, a leading manufacturer of healthcare solutions, I aim to provide you with the building blocks for S&OP maturity.

You will learn:

The various methods to calculate safety stock and recommendations for your organization

How to get buy-in from the organization for your method of choice and the outcome

Pulling in HR and area managers into the S&OP process to develop Rough Cut Capacity Plans

As data grows, so does the demand for effective decision making at both ends of the supply chain. In years past, VMI (Vendor Managed Inventory), was the gold standard for many companies. However, as Big Data becomes ever more important, reliance on this outdated methodology is causing many companies to lose the game or drop out altogether. At Continental Tire, however, we saw the need to harness the massive amount of data that is available today and we responded by reengineering our entire replenishment process, one we now refer to as Collaborative Replenishment. With a new demand planning system combining EDI and SAP we are now prepared to handle the challenges of Big Data, at any level of the game. For some customers, we forecast and order their inventory at the SKU level, and others at their SKU/DC level. This process manages decisions at all steps of the supply chain. In this interactive session, I will reveal how and why Collaborative Replenishment is gaining momentum in our company and how it provides clarity and responses quicker than any other process we have ever used. After all, the goal of a supply chain is to deliver the right product at the right place, at the right time, and at the right cost. No matter what industry you are in, the Big Data beast is coming. I will show you how you can succeed in this new paradigm with Collaborative Replenishment as key tool in your supply chain playbook.

You will learn:

What Collaborative Replenishment is and why it works

How to choose a forecasting system that can also handle Collaborative Replenishment

How to tame the Big Data giant by reengineering your collaboration process to include VMI

Your sales volatility is your company’s heartbeat, and you want it steady and predictable. Finding the natural rhythms of your SKUs’ volatility is the goal of any Demand Planner and Forecaster because it allows us to react proactively. If we can do this, our operations are smoother, and we make much smarter decisions. This session will reveal how to identify the different sources of volatility for your products. We will investigate the economic, psychological, engineering, design,, seasonal, historica,l and behavioral factors that influence demand. Once we have a handle on all these factors, we need to leverage the insight gained, which is why I will show how to validate and analyze your findings to develop strategies to lower operating costs and achieve greater supply chain efficiency. Additional highlights include examining the often overlooked internal sources of volatility within your own Production, Logistics and Warehousing. This is not one to miss.

You will learn:

Effective ways to build a BI system able to capture and validate data

How to develop strategies to cut costs associated with excess inventory, lost sales, expediting logistics, unconsolidated freight cost and more

How to identify different sources of internal volatility within your own supply chain

In workshops and tutorials, it appears remarkably easy to calculate the lift impact of marketing promotions. In the real world, however, isolating the effects of promotions and events from regular variation can prove highly challenging. But that shouldn’t stop us from trying because knowing which promotional activities work and which don’t is an incredibly powerful way to drive sales. Software packages promise easy fixes, but these often result in false positives. So how does one approach the calculation of event impacts within a complex and dynamic sales environment? This hands-on presentation reveals how to figure out which initiatives work and which don’t. As I’ll reveal, there are a number of data preparation steps that can help pave the way for clearer results, and a number of different regression and analytical techniques that are better suited for particular types of events. This session will provide an overview of both data preparation and analytical techniques, as well as insights into how to mitigate data availability gaps. I will leave you with a powerful methodology that will allow you to gain highly valuable insight, allowing your organization to clearly identify the initiatives that drive growth. The successful application of analytics to Sales and Marketing has been a long time coming, and I’ll show you how it’s done.

Key learnings:

How to reduce the background noise in demand data to isolate the impact of sales events such as promotions, market changes and competitor events

Which regression techniques best suit particular datasets and scenarios

In this session, we'll examine how the Analytics Team partners with the Demand Planning organization to transform the process, the roles, and the perception of Forecasting at Kellogg’s. We'll look at how the right data and analytics enhance the forecasting process, ensure adoption, and elevate the role of Demand Planner. Finally, we'll see how advanced analytics are ushering in a new era of simplified and optimized integrated planning. Join us for an interactive session, where you’ll hear case studies from real world lessons learned that you can apply to your own organization upon return.

Attendees will learn:

How to use analytical thinking to transform the modeling process

How to use data to drive adoption and ensure successful change

How to elevate the role of Forecaster from tactical to strategic partner

A Seat at the Leadership Table: Gaining Management Buy In For Forecasting at General Motors

The best forecast in the world is of little use if management does not use it. Exerting influence and gaining management buy in of the forecast requires a defined process, engagement and a solid structure. But this is easier said than done, and in many cases, it will require a complete change in culture. This interactive presentation will cover the transformation of GM’s Long-Term Forecasting group from uninformed pessimists to valuable business partners, and how what we achieved can be replicated in your organization. I will cover the methodology, structure, consistency, and storytelling we employed to build credibility and trust in our analysis, complete with real case studies from GM. Highlights include how to use range-based analysis and transparency to build confidence in the forecast and data visualization to clearly reveal the value to the business. Not only that, I will I review how the team is adapting to the changing nature of data, and the type of resources we are targeting for our group as we continue to evolve.

What will you learn from this keynote session?

The best ways to influence and sell forecasts to Senior Management

How to visualize sales volume risk across an entire portfolio and how to display the range of forecast possibilities beyond the “point” forecast

New frontiers in data analysis (IoT, Autonomous vehicles, BEVs) and the required talent to leverage these possibilities

Analytics-driven forecasting means more than measuring trend and seasonality. You can’t measure all the demand patterns with these rudimentary methods, nor can you rely on your “gut feeling” judgment to explain all the unexplained variance. Companies need to move to a more analytics-oriented culture if they want to better understand their customers and more accurately predict future demand. But it takes time to transition to an effective analytics environment, and requires an enterprise-wide effort to implement the necessary corporate mindset. You will need to invest in developing new analytics skills, horizontal processes and large-scale technology. This hands-on session will touch on all these areas, as well as why analytics-driven forecasting combined with AI is changing forecasting and demand planning forever.

Blockchain continues to be one of the hottest buzzwords in business, yet real examples of successful application remain few and far between. But make no mistake, Blockchain is set to revolutionize many aspects of business, including Predictive Analytics. In this hands-on session, we will reveal how Blockchain works, the underlying assumptions, how it operates as an independent data source and how it integrates with Predictive Analytics. We will dive into how modern analytical platforms are currently being used to deliver valuable business insight, explaining how Blockchain’s distributed ledgers meets analytics software with a demo of transactional data. This Qlik Sense demo shows how practical Predictive Analytics is executed on Blockchain and conventional data. Highlights of this session include which challenges can be overcome by using Blockchain technology and the real applications by the cutting-edge companies at the forefront of this remarkable technology.

If you are connected with any Supply Chain managers and consultants on LinkedIn, you’re likely seeing a lot of content on Probabilistic Forecasting and Demand Driven MRP. You might even see sensational claims that time-based forecasting is almost unneeded in some methods. Is statistical forecasting therefore obsolete? In short, not even close. If you’re a demand planner, you’re likely wondering whether to implement neural networks and machine learning into your processes, and whilst these can be valuable, the bigger question is this: are you currently getting the most out of statistical forecasting? Before you consider implementing advanced methods, you must leverage time-based methods like Holt-Winters and Box-Jenkins at various levels (top down, bottom up, middle out). In this hands-on session, I will challenge you to consider whether you’ve effectively implemented time-based models, reinforce its value, and provide practical tips to really master the basics.

You will learn:

How one Demand Planning Manager views demand driven manufacturing planning and Probabilistic Forecasting in a period of technological change

How to master the basics of statistical forecasting (Holt-Winters, Box-Jenkins, etc.)

How to experiment with neural networks/deep learniing predictive models without getting side-tracked

Customer centricity is on nearly every organization’s strategic agenda and has become even more relevant in the B2B setting. The key to success when it comes to a customer-centric strategy is an integrated approach that starts from the “end” (i.e. the customer), and the foundation of that approach is to understand the customer base through Customer Segmentation Analysis. The results of such analysis can be used to not only help companies improve their performance with existing customers but also serve as a model to forecast potential customers’ needs and boost new customer acquisition. This hands-on presentation is focused on Big Data Customer Segmentation Analytics – I will reveal the value of the analysis, leading practices, tools and techniques, common pitfalls, and success stories. Armed with greater understanding of your customers, you will be able to leverage this method as a serious growth driver.

You will learn:

The applications and value of Big Data Customer Segmentation Analytics

While no one should confuse a highly skilled professional with a can of tomato soup, there are many similarities in forecasting demand for human capital and how we forecast demand for a food product. In the services business, the product is people, and it is necessary to accurately forecast demand to service customers efficiently. Believe it or not, the methodologies and analytics used in forecasting Human Resources resemble those used in forecasting consumer packaged goods. Ongoing Service Level Agreements, for example, are like long standing SKUs – both can be forecasted with simple statistical models. But new projects, like new SKUs, must be forecast with reference to previous projects, or other analytical or qualitative methods. Although similarities exist, there are also important differences between forecasting people and items, particularly in the review of forecast performance versus actuals. This interactive presentation looks at processes for forecasting demand for personnel, and how they evaluate performance. If you are responsible for forecasting/planning Human Resources, as well as predicting demand for physical products, this session is not one to miss.

You will learn:

How SKUs are defined and forecasted in various scenarios

Where statistical modelling can help, and where non-statistical methods are used

How variance in forecasts can be attributed to many reasons, and why understanding these reasons is a critical part of forecasting performance evaluation

Uncertainty in business is unavoidable and a critical driver of business performance. And yet, other than running a few low/medium/high scenarios, most companies fail to incorporate uncertainty into their forecasting and planning processes. What’s more, many companies fail to incorporate uncertainty into their decision-making objectives which can really limit an organization’s effectiveness – after all, trying to maximize your best-case scenario for profitability is very different to maximizing your worst-case scenario. In this interactive session, I will focus on how uncertainty can be estimated (both by software and by humans) and modeled to improve various types of forecasts and plans within an organization. Highlights include the modeling you need, and how to present uncertainty analysis to management teams without getting lost in the details. By embracing volatility, we can understand it, plan for it, and mitigate it.

You will learn:

Why you and your organization should be incorporating uncertainty into your forecasting and planning processes

The role of uncertainty estimation, modeling (including Monte Carlo simulation), and analysis in these processes

How uncertainty factors into short-term operational planning vs. long-term strategic planning and how to present uncertainty analysis to management teams.

One of the most powerful uses of Predictive Analytics is the creation of inputs into traditional forecasting processes. The resulting improvement in forecast accuracy makes it hugely valuable to any organization – and it all starts with R Scripting, a programming language that allows forecasters the flexibility to collect, analyze and interpret data in a way that is simple to use and understand. Regardless of the forecasting software or platform, R Scripting is a powerful tool for predictive data creation. This session is designed to give you a working knowledge of R scripting so you can implement it in your own organization. I will explore segment-level measures such as attrition rate by customer class, market basket analysis and product line, and I will prepare these measures by scripting in the open-source language R. Sample scripts will be distributed and handouts will illustrate R installation to give you the ability to implement it in your own processes.

You will learn:

The basics of R Scripting to get you started for improved forecasting

How to find and use R packages for predictive analytics technique

How to create and export predictive analytics measures for use in your forecasting software

Can you imagine the improvements you’d make if you could accurately predict and test future demand scenarios? What kind of efficiencies would you be able to drive, and what sales opportunities would you be able to exploit? This is what we’ll explore in this hands-on session, where we’ll discover demand sensitivities, learn to easily model alternate forecasts, and quickly access external time series influencers such as weather and economic factors. The reality is that markets have changed, Demand drivers are changing, and your Supply Chain is getting more complex, meaning forecasting best practices are more important than ever. Come to this session and you’ll vastly improve your demand predictions and identify real growth opportunities. Highlights of this fun and informative workshop include a case study of how a global engine manufacturer leveraged demand modeling to better understand demand drivers in the oil and gas sector.

You will learn:

How demand modeling provides a holistic understanding of your demand, what drives it and why

How to test and predict short, medium and long-term demand and how to apply these to strategic decision making

How to leverage external time series influencers to improve your demand prediction

Move over Millennials, you have some competition coming. I’m talking about the next generation who are growing up with Siri and Alexa as their parents. The future of Data Science and Predictive Analytics will depend not only on technological advancements but also the people that adapt or use them. In this hands-on session we will take an honest look at the next generation of Data Scientists and Demand Planners and what it will take to succeed in these fields, and what this evolving role may look like when Generation PI comes of age. I will discuss the current skills gap that holds back the forecasting, demand planning and business analytics disciplines, one that is only set to get worse unless we act. I will reveal what skills and competencies are needed for companies to fully leverage the next stage of technology which includes including Machine Learning, AI and Blockchain.

You will learn:

The core competencies companies will be looking for in the future and what gaps we currently see

Key technology advancements such as Machine Learning, AI, Blockchain and others, and what they mean specifically to us as Demand Planners

Options and opinions of the centralized or decentralized role of Data Science and Predictive analytics in the future.

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IBF members include well-known company professionals that span a broad array of business sectors. By joining
our organization, you can make certain that your company sets up the right forecasting & planning process and
uses the best techniques available. Moreover, you can be sure that your forecasting and demand planning staff
has the proper knowledge and skill set for success.

As an IBF member you receive:

A subscription to the Journal of Business Forecasting, which is primarily written by and
geared toward practitioners.

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Speaker's Biographies

Sara Brumbaugh

Ceres Analytics

Managing Principal

Sara Brumbaugh is Managing Principal of Ceres Analytics, a consultancy specializing in applied mathematics, statistics, and machine learning. Sara’s roots are in business forecasting: she’s worked with the IBF for 20 years, and is the 2015 recipient of IBF’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Sara’s work in predictive analytics began with construction of forecast drivers to predict
stock returns. Her current analytic work supports genetic brain research at Harvard Medical School. Other recent work includes patent-pending algorithms to detect financial fraud, and genetic models to predict success of cancer chemotherapy. Sara holds a masters in Economics from Florida State University.

Ryan Chan

Llamasoft

Director, Solution Design

Ryan Chan is the Senior Director of Solution Design at LLamasoft. The Solution Design team’s key responsibilities include the presentation of technology solutions based on customer requirements, creation of proof of concepts, educating potential and existing customers on industry best practices and quantifying potential benefits derived from the application of LLamasoft technologies. Prior his role in Solution Design, Ryan served as the Product Manager of Supply Chain Guru as well as a Senior Consultant. Ryan also has experience designing supply chains for a major retailer as well as a multi-national manufacturing company. He received his BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Purdue University and his MBA from Krannert School of Management at Purdue University.

Charles W. Chase, Jr., CPF

SAS Institute, Inc.

Advisory Industry Consultant

Mr. Chase is an author, thought leader and trusted advisor delivering demand planning and forecasting solutions to improve consumer packaged goods companies supply chain efficiencies. Prior to that, he worked for various companies, including the Mennen Company, Johnson & Johnson, Consumer Products Inc., Reckitt Benckiser PLC, Polaroid Corporation,
Coca Cola, Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals, and Heineken USA. He has more than 20 years of experience in the consumer packaged goods industry, and is an expert in sales forecasting, market response modeling, econometrics, and supply chain management. He is the author of several books, including Next Generation Demand Management: People, Process, Analytics, and Technology and Demand-Driven Forecasting: A Structured Approach to Forecasting. In addition, he is co-author of Bricks Matter: The Role of Supply Chains in Building Market-Driven Differentiation. He is also the second recipient of the IBF Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mary Côté

MAXIMUS Canada

Director, Product Development

Tom Dyer

Collaborative Outcomes

President

Tom Dyer is president of the coaching and consulting firm Collaborative Outcomes, which assists in clarifying the results that teams want to achieve, and the roles they need to assume in order to make them a reality. For 23 years, Tom has assisted teams in achieving strategic and operational goals through greater collaboration, corporate retreats, consultancy services, leadership programs and skills development. He has worked with leaders in large organizations across the globe including Sanofi, Novo Nordisk, Merck and Boehringer-Ingelheim. A psychologist by training, Tom is a practitioner of Neuro-linguistic Programming and holds a degree in Marketing and a Doctorate in Spiritual Science.

Arya Eskamani

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines

Data Science Leader

With many years of data science experience across a variety of industries, Arya Eskamani is not only an accomplished professional but also a passionate mentor to analytics practitioners. His professional career began in 2012 as Project Manager for AssistRx, a healthcare technology startup. He secured the company’s first data science contract utilizing machine learning to predict patient conversion rates for one of the world’s largest biopharmaceutical manufacturers. In 2014 he joined Restaurant Services, Inc., the supply chain management cooperative for Burger King restaurants. Working his way from Senior Predictive Analyst to Data Science Manager, Arya implemented solutions to solve complex challenges related to new menu item forecasting, automated prediction algorithms and supply chain optimization. He also developed an internal data science training program for employees aspiring to expand their use of advanced analytics. Arya recently accepted a Data Science position with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines joining a team of data scientists and artificial intelligence specialists focused on delivering exceptional guest experiences. In addition to his professional vocation, Arya is also the Chief Analytics Officer of Str8 Studios, Inc., a boutique technology startup, overseeing the firm’s analytics consulting and training services. He received his Bachelors of Business Administration with a focus in Economics from the University of Central Florida and his Masters of Science in Economics with a focus in Econometrics from Florida Atlantic University.

Michael Gilliland

SAS Institute

Product Marketing Manager

Michael Gilliland is author of The Business Forecasting Deal, and currently Product Marketing Manager for SAS forecasting software. He worked in consumer products forecasting for over fifteen years in the food, electronics, and apparel industries, and as a consultant. Mike holds a BA in Philosophy from Michigan State University, and Master’s degrees in Philosophy and Mathematical Sciences from Johns Hopkins University. He has published in Journal of Business Forecasting, Supply Chain Management Review, Foresight: The International Journal of Applied Forecasting, Analytics, and APICS Magazine, and wrote a quarterly column on “Worst Practices” for Supply Chain Forecasting Digest. He was the 2017 recipient of IBF’s Lifetime Achievement in Business Forecasting & Planning Award.

Rhonda Harp

Merck & Co., Inc.

Director, Global Commercial Forecasting

Rhonda Harp is currently the Director of Global Commercial Forecasting (GCF) for the Hospital, Specialty and Primary Care business line at Merck. She is responsible for leading a team of forecasters, focusing on influencing major investment decisions and shaping strategy for products from launch onward. In her 19 years at Merck, Rhonda has spent the majority of her time focused on forecasting with experience across all stages of the product life cycle from development through patent expiry. Rhonda has an MBA from DeSales University and BSBA from Gwynedd-Mercy University.

Ted Hanawalt

General Motors

Director, Global Long Term Forecasting and Industry Analysis

Ted Hanawalt is the Director of Global Forecasting and Market Analysis at General Motors, responsible for synthesizing market data into strategic issues and actionable opportunities. Ted’s experience at General Motors covers a variety of different functions, particularly from a product demand forecasting, product portfolio strategy, and manufacturing strategy perspective. Ted holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and an M.S. in Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and an MBA from Pennsylvania State University.

Fred Hefer

Pomerol Partners

Co-Founder

Fred is the US and global CEO of Pomerol Partners, a 2013 spin-out from Deutsche Bank (London) and Qlik analytics services provider and developer of Blockchain solutions. During his tenure at DB, Fred served the Equities Prime Services division in various finance roles from analyst to controller to manager, with a specialization in Securities Lending. Before this, he spent time at Royal Bank of Scotland working in Business Analysis and Business Intelligence roles. Fred serves on the Qlik Americas Partner Advisory Council and was recently recognized as a 2017 Qlik Luminary. He holds a degree in Economics and Business Management from Stellenbosch University in South Africa.

Jonathon Karelse

Factors Group of Nutritional Companies

Chief Strategy Officer

Jonathon’s professional career has consisted of leadership roles in transportation, finance and
health products, beginning in supply chain and demand planning roles and culminating in a vice
president position in strategic planning and corporate development. Currently, he functions as
the Chief Strategy Officer at the Factors Group of Nutritional Companies. He is a recognized
thought leader in demand planning and is co-founding partner of the S&OP consultancy
NorthFind Partners. Jonathon has been a long-term contributor to the IBF’s body of knowledge,
with a specific focus on forecasting metrics and diagnostics and forecast value-add. He studied
economics at the University of Western Ontario before moving to Vancouver to study law at
the University of British Columbia. Jonathon went on to study operations and value chain
management at the MIT Sloan School of Management.

Michael Lavaglio

Dexcom

Director, Supply Chain Planning

Mike is the Director of Supply Planning at Dexcom, a medical device manufacturer based in San Diego, whose main product is a continuous glucose monitor to help with diabetes care. He is responsible for leading the S&OP process, Master Production Scheduling, and MRP system implementation. Prior to Dexcom, Mike spent 3 years at Stone Brewing Company managing their S&OP process and leading the Supply Chain department, including the Planning, Procurement, and Warehousing functions. Other career highlights include a couple of years at a medical device start-up and 7 years at Abbott Laboratories (formally Guidant) in various Supply Chain and supplier quality functions. Mike graduated with a degree in Biochemistry from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and holds APICS, CPSC, and Six Sigma Green Belt certifications.

Brian Lewis

Vanguard Software

Executive Vice President

Brian is EVP at Vanguard Software, which delivers advanced-analytic forecasting and optimization capabilities worldwide through a single, cloud platform for IBP, S&OP, Supply Chain, and Finance. Brian has more than 10 years of experience in Business Forecasting and Planning, Supply Chain Management, and advanced analytics. He previously held positions at Ford Motor Company, UPS, and Providian Financial. Brian has a Ph.D. in Operations Research and Supply Chain Analytics from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Luidi Maia

OneSubsea

General Manager for Landing Strings Services

Luidi has 13 years’ experience spread across Procurement and Demand & Supply Planning. He started his career at Johnson & Johnson as a Procurement Analyst for non-stock products and services but has spent most of his career in the Oil & Gas Industry with Schlumberger. He is now General Manager for one of its subsidiaries, OneSubsea. He has worked on numerous transformational projects at Schlumberger and occupied various roles, including Head of Supply Planning for the Western hemisphere. Key successes include implementing Regional Distribution Centers and Regional Supply Planning processes and systems. Luidi holds a BSc in Electrical Engineering and an MBA from INSEAD.

Alan L. Milliken, CPF

BASF

Sr. Manager, SC Capability Development

Mr. Milliken is a Senior Manager on the Supply Chain Capability Development Team at BASF, the world’s leading chemical company. Prior to accepting this global assignment, Alan was Manager of Business Process Education at BASF Corporation in North America. Before that he was Business Process Consultant at BASF, where he supported several business re-engineering projects, three major acquisitions; in addition, he received the Chairman’s GOLD award for his work on a major acquisition. Alan has been an APICS instructor since 1995. Before becoming a consultant and educator, Mr. Milliken worked at major plant sites for 22 years including assignments in Production, Logistics-SCM, Process Control, Quality Control, Operator Training, Industrial Engineering and Scheduling. He served as one of the original Subject Matter Experts (SME) that created APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) and the IBF’s Certified Professional Forecaster (CPF) programs. In 2010, he served as a SME to update both the MRP and ECO courses for the APICS CPIM program. He has been published in many magazines and several textbooks. Alan is a 2013 recipient of IBF’s Excellence in Business Forecasting & Planning award. He holds a BS Degree in Industrial Engineering from Auburn University and an MBA in management from Clemson University.

Chad Schumacher

Kellogg's

Sr. Director, Global Analytics

Chad is an experienced analytics and programming expert, with extensive exposure to a variety of roles in analytics, Supply Chain and Planning. With an academic background in Finance and Statistics, Chad’s career includes management roles in application development, leading a team of developers at Dlt Database Designs. It was here that he project-managed the creation and deployment of a variety of applications to support Finance, Sales and Operations, and Demand Forecasting functions. This experience led him to an analytics role at Kellogg in 2005, assuming the position of Sales Modeling & Analytics Manager. He has worked at Kellogg ever since, moving on to Director of Sales & Modeling, then Principal Data Scientist and then on to his current role as Sr. Director of Global Analytics. Chad holds a degree in Finance and Statistics from Western Michigan University.

Sylvia Starnes, CPF

Continental Tire

Demand Collaboration Manager

Sylvia Starnes serves as the Senior Demand Collaboration Manager at Continental Tire. She holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Monlieat College and is certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) and Certificated Supply Chain Profession (CSCP) by APICS, and is an IBF Certified Professional Forecaster (CPF). Sylvia has 20 years of experience with Supply Chain and CPFR.

Vikram Srinivasan

Llamasoft

Product Group Manager, Data & Analytics

Vikram Srinivasan is Product Group Manager for Data & Analytics LLamasoft and is primarily responsible for managing the data analytics and demand modeling product offerings and defining and prioritizing market requirements. Vikram’s expertise spans network and inventory optimization and demand modeling. Prior to his Product Management role, Vikram worked as a Senior Consultant at LLamasoft on multiple projects solving various supply chain design problems. He received his M.S in Industrial Engineering (Major: Operations Research) at The Ohio State University.

Jon Weininger

Georgia-Pacific Gypsum

Former S&OP Manager – Demand Planning

As S&OP Manager - Demand Planning for Georgia-Pacific Gypsum, Jon is responsible for implementing best practices in the company's demand forecasting process. In this role, he championed the use of the statistical forecast to serve as the baseline for the company's S&OP consensus building process and launched an initiative to track and report forecast accuracy. Prior to joining Georgia-Pacific Gypsum, Jon spent four years at Home Depot, starting in Store Operations before moving to the Supply Chain Analytics group. As part of that team, he participated in Supply Chain Sync, one of the biggest Supply Chain transformation projects ever undertaken and part of Home Depot's $1.8 billion investment in technology. Here he learned about inventory management, forecasting, distribution center operations and end-to-end Supply Chain initiatives.

Eric Wilson, CPF

Escalade Sports

Director of Planning

Eric has exceptional abilities to align end to end processes and develop collaboration. He has a rich career track and has excelled in numerous areas of Supply Chain. He has an established record of significant improvement in developing demand forecasting & supply chain processes, improving inventory turns while maintaining service, Demand Driven end to end collaboration, Championing S&OP and its implementations. Eric’s more recent experience includes Eric Wilson working as the Director of Demand Planning at Berry Plastics, and the Director of Global Demand Planning and S&OP with Tempur Sealy International, the world’s largest premium mattress manufacturer. He is a member of the Institute of Business Forecasting (IBF) Board of Advisors, and has served as a speaker & panelist for IBF Executive Forums and conferences. Eric has also published in the IBF’s Journal of Business Forecasting and is an IBF Certified Professional Forecaster (CPF).

Yi Xiao

Alvarez & Marsal

Senior Director

Yi Xiao is a Senior Director at Alvarez & Marsal, a global consulting from that links Operations, performance improvement, and value creation to help companies turn areas of stagnation into growth. Xi had helped multiple Global 1000 companies with Supply Chain strategy and performance improvement by leveraging Big Data and analytics. Before joining Alvarez and Marsal, Xi worked in various Supply Chain leadership roles at Halliburton. He holds an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin where he served as the Chair of the McCombs Admissions Committee. He also holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Houston and is APICS certified in Production and Inventory.

Randy Wilp

Merck & Co., Inc.

Executive Director, Global Commercial Forecasting

Randy Wilp is currently Executive Director, Global Commercial Forecasting (GCF) at Merck. GCF is responsible for influencing major investment decisions, during product launch and through its remaining lifecycle. During his 30-year career Randy has held various forecasting related positions, including a stint as Director of Predictive Analytics at Bristol Myers Squibb and Director of Global Strategic Forecasting at Pharmacia. He has also run his own forecast consulting firm and lead the forecast consulting practice within a consulting company. Randy is currently on IBF’s Board of Advisors and holds three separate degrees from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis.